The Daily Auto Insider: General Motors says it will build a new rollover testing facility at its Milford Proving Ground in Michigan as part of a $33 million "state-of-the-art" crash-testing facility.

General Motors says it will build a new rollover testing facility at its Milford Proving Ground in Michigan as part of a $33 million "state-of-the-art" crash-testing facility.

The rollover facility, GM said in a statement, will be adjacent to an existing crash barrier test facility, and will be used to develop rollover-sensing systems for airbags and development of occupant protection systems to reduce the likelihood of ejection in a crash.

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More than 10,000 people are killed and more than 200,000 are injured in rollover crashes every year, accounting for about one in four highway deaths, according to federal highway fatality statistics.

"Rollover crashes are a major reason why GM has committed to make electronic stability control standard by the end of the decade," said Bob Lange, GM Executive Director of Vehicle Structure and Safety Integration. "This rollover facility is an example of our commitment to comprehensive safety — before, during and after a crash."

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GM currently conducts rollover tests offsite at a Detroit-area automotive supplier. The new facility, which will open in late 2006, initially will conduct 120 to 150 tests a year with the capacity for more. At first, five rollover scenarios will be conducted but others will be added if needed.

Being able to conduct rollover tests in house will lead to faster development of rollover-sensing technology, increase efficiency, and save money, said Albert Ware, director of the Vehicle Safety and Crash Worthiness Lab at the Milford Proving Ground.

$8 million for data recording equipment used in crash tests that stores data on the vehicle instead of remotely. This will allow for less cumbersome testing and for more data channels to be installed on the vehicle.

$6 million for a computer controlled and hydraulically powered acceleration sled that reproduces crash forces like those in barrier impact testing. The new sled is 2.5 times more powerful than the two existing sleds.

$6 million for digital high-speed cameras rugged enough to withstand crash forces and immediately provide detailed images of the test.